The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed plans to train 3100 youths across the State at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) in the next academic session, in order to position them for sustainability, to tackle life challenges.
Speaking while receiving youths during a rally in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Governor in Uyo, Governor Eno said the State under his leadership was committed to raising a vibrant youth community.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the youths for their show of support for his administration, especially for enabling an environment for peace to thrive.
“What you have done today gives us much more inspiration to continue to work for you, to continue to put in our best to ensure that we create a future that our youth will be proud of. We continue to ensure that we make provision for our youths in the area of human capital development.
“The Dakadda Skills Acquisition Center is training and training our young people. So, I am directing that for this academic session, each local government area will send 50 people. And apart from State sponsoring 50, local governments will add 50 to make it 100 for each local government area,” he said.
The Governor also announced a 150 per cent increase in student bursary, saying that from January 2026, each student will receive N50,000 as against the 20,000 earlier recieved.
He advised youths to either be educated or learn a skill, stressing that government was prepared to support them on either venture.
The Governor highlighted some efforts of government towards youths development to include; the building of youths friendly centers across all the local government areas of the State, and other essential facilities.
He said the State through the Ministry of Youth Development is working towards a policy for youth development in the state, adding that under his leadership, the government has been youth friendly with many youths including the Commissioner for Youths, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen and Personal Aides to the Governor.
Speaking on other areas of youth empowerment, the Governor said through Ibom Air, 40 Akwa Ibomites have been trained in aviation school, 20 as pilots and 20 as engineers, adding that in January 2026, another 10 will also be trained as pilots.
“We are developing our young people for sustainability. While I support people giving you money once in a while, our youths must rise above handouts, you must be able to stand in the Committee of youths across this country and hold your heads high; and you are doing it. We are seeing our young people, they are doing well in school and in their profession.
“As a government, I promise you that as far as God keeps me here, I will fight for your cause, we will make provisions for our youths, women, children and the elderly,” he said.
The Governor appreciated President Tinubu for releasing funds to states to enable them run their programmes, and assured that in 2026, the State will continue to empower youths through skills acquisition.
Governor Eno appreciated the youths for their endorsement, and support, saying, “On behalf of the state government, President Tinubu and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, I thank the youths for their continuous support and partnership.”
In a remark, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development, Mr Martins Esin said the youths of the State elected to have an endorsement rally for President Tinubu, Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno given their youth friendly leadership.
He said the youths constitutes 60 percent of the population of the state, adding that those who turned out for the rally were a representative of the youth population, and assured the Governor of their massive support in 2027.
Lending his voice, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Ekanem, said the youth have decided to unite in progress following the Governor’s footsteps in uniting the State, and assured that the youth will be united in support of the trio and other candidates of the party in the 2027 elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Dr. Uwemedimo Udo said, “These are the Youths of Akwa Ibom State coming out to thank you and to affirm that come 2027, they will continue to support the President of Nigeria, Governor Umo Eno, Senator Akpabio, and all APC candidates.”
Highpoint of the event was a motion for the adoption of President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno as sole candidates of the youth in the 2027 election, moved and seconded Rt Hon Otobong Bob, and Hon Uwemedimo Asuquo respectively.
